Tasmanian devils are marsupials, which means they have a pouch where they keep their babies (like a kangaroo does). Tasmanian devils are only found in Tasmania; they don’t live anywhere else in the world. Scientists say Tasmanian devils used to live on the mainland of Australia too, but they went extinct there. People call these animals “Tassie devils” (pronounced tazz-ee). Tassie devils are carnivores, which means they eat other animals for food. I was surprised to learn that Tassie devils are very slow moving: they can only run as fast as a chicken!
A unique fact about tassie devils is the sound they make. When the early British settlers arrived in Tasmania, they heard the animals off in the distance making their iconic screeching, barking and snorting sounds. The settlers were so scared that they called the animals “tasmanian devils”!
Tassie devils are small--about the size of a small dog--and covered in black fur with some white patches. They have short arms, short legs and a short neck. They’re actually shaped kind of like a pig!
